Close call with cyclists

[anguscat]

Would you like a list of reasons not to use cycle paths? Everyone assumes we're just being petty/belligerent and that is rarely the case its just that drivers haven't figured it out. People also assume the paths don't get used, just because you don't see people when you are driving alongside it for a short period of time.

It's always saddening when riders have no empathy for other vulnerable road users, we should all support each other, I wear lycra on the horse and on a bike is this somehow bad?

Oh and distance is 1.5M for cyclists.

Have you shown one iota of empathy here to any of the riders expressing some horrifying experiences?
No.

 

[Exasperated]

we need to add to the law by taking action against cyclists who use roads when there is a cycle track by the side of it. (nothing to do with horses)
Going into town today there is a very wide cycle track, I have only seen half a dozen bikes oh it over several years. They made the main road considerably narrower in order to build the cycle track. No idea why they thought any cyclist would actually use it.
Today the cycle track was completely empty you could have cycled along with no problems. So why did one female (in lycra( insist on riding on the road very slowly. (it was uphill) there was 1/4 mile of traffic queueing behind her and absolutely no hope of any of it getting past her allowing her 2m for several miles. What a selfish cow she was.

A tractor and trailer which goes much faster than she was is required to pull in and not hold up the traffic so why shouldn't cyclists

Personally, think the law needs adding on a number of fronts, to protect as many vulnerable users as possible, including other users of bridleways and byways where cyclists are permitted, and footpaths / pavements where they are not - but often do.
Now’s your chance to highlight issues and suggest solutions:

The Government is currently considering legislation around inappropriate cycling, see crime

 

[Exasperated]

Personally, think the law needs adding on a number of fronts, to protect as many vulnerable users as possible, including other users of bridleways and byways where cyclists are permitted, and footpaths / pavements where they are not - but often do.
Now’s your chance to highlight issues and suggest solutions:

The Government is currently considering legislation around inappropriate cycling, see crime

ETA. (Following from above, can’t work a computer!)

.....see.....
Crime and Policing Bill: dangerous cycling offences factsheet - GOV.UK

Horse riders and cyclists can share multi-user routes very successfully: mutual consideration, appropriate consideration, appropriate behaviour and safety is achievable and should always be the aim.

This Bill does not specifically mention inappropriate cycling on Bridleways, or physical danger to other than humans.

If you are concerned, and if you believe the scope should be extended because horses (and their handlers) can be very badly affected by inappropriate cycling on any public routes, and by ‘Sportive’ events etc:

Please contact your MP with this concern.

(NB. Road Traffic Act 1988, section31, it is illegal to race a bicycle on a public bridleway)

 

[ester]

Have you shown one iota of empathy here to any of the riders expressing some horrifying experiences?
No.

Have plenty, also had plenty of issues with them myself, i am in Cambridge after all we have a lot of shared use ‘bridleways’ that are actually tarmaced commuter routes, miles of it. That was just a different point that I wasn’t making as there was plenty of horse rider empathy knocking around.

 

[Fullers1845]

I have to say that in general, most the cyclists I meet hacking are generally really kind and considerate, especially on a busy bridleway that I often use, it's the grumpy (usually male) drivers that cause the most hassle for me.

For many years I used to cycle thousands of miles a year, but got increasingly put off by inconsiderate drivers - though you always used to get the occasional smidsy or belligerent twat.
It was around 5 or 6 years ago that I noticed a genuine uptick in aggressive language, getting blocked in traffic when filtering and worst of all was the deliberate close passes, and my bikes are now sadly dusty and hanging up in the garage.

 

[anguscat]

I have to say that in general, most the cyclists I meet hacking are generally really kind and considerate, especially on a busy bridleway that I often use.
It's the grumpy (usually male) drivers that cause the most hassle for me.

Yes, ‘most’ of every category of road users are helpful. And a special for motorcyclists. I think they have greatly improved this last 10 years or so. No I’m not a motorcyclist. I ride, drive and cycle.

 

[paddy555]

So many overt haters of cyclists on here .

Cyclists are very vulnerable, just like horse riders.

well I cycle so far from a hater. However I cannot see any reason, other than losing your run at a hill which I see is perfectly reasonable, as to why cyclists cannot pull over and a let stream of traffic go past. Also cannot see why they cannot wear reflective clothing as standard.

no cyclists appear able to come up with any reason on a public road as to why you shouldn't pull over to let built up traffic past. There are often suitable places/spaces and it can be done safely.

yes they are very vulnerable especially from cars so why not protect themselves, lights, clothing, letting cars past, having respect for horses so they don't get kicked, moving onto off road cycle tracks so they are safe from traffic. Just why wouldn't you if you wanted to keep yourself safe.

Also having bells if you are on multi use tracks. We always ring our bells if passing walkers. When we started we thought it was arrogant but so many walkers thank you for the warning and we learnt it was the accepted way of doing things.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s quite tricky when cycling up a steep hill to pull over and stop without wobbling a bit, and then you have to restart up the steep hill again. If you are being pressed by cars on a narrow road it can be safer to just keep going and hope that the traffic can pass you. Sometimes cars won’t pass even when there is plenty of room which isn’t the fault of the cyclist.

It has just been pointed out to me by a fellow cyclist that as I do not ride clipped in to my pedals, I have old fashioned toe clips so can slip my feet in and out easily, so it is much easier for me to stop and start again on a hill than the sportier modern types who have to twist and unclip. If they get that wrong they will tumble over on the road still clipped in to their pedals.

I have proper ‘granny’ gears on my analogue touring bike, it has very low gears, and that does make me slow. I do always pull in when I can, but what a motorist might think of as an obvious pull in can be very rough and unsuitable for bikes.

Btw I am a very considerate cyclist with good road manners, I have bright clothing and lights, I do use my bell, and I thank other road users as appropriate.

Was that steep hill you mention the climb up from Bovey Tracy to Haytor? I’ve cycled that, it is lengthy and steep . I did not have a line of cars being me. It has been the location for the national cycling hill climb championships in the past.

It is indeed unfortunate that some cyclists are idiots who ride without consideration, but there is a distinct tendency on HHO to lump all cyclists together as aggressive rule breakers.

 

[paddy555]

Was that steep hill you mention the climb up from Bovey Tracy to Haytor? I’ve cycled that, it is lengthy and steep . I did not have a line of cars being me. It has been the location for the national cycling hill climb championships in the past.

not sure if that was to me or I mentioned the hill but yes it is certainly one of the problem areas, and congrats if you made it. It is now so popular that there are always cyclists.

the main problem with that particular one is the lack of hi vis. . I don't know why that hill is so bad for lack of hi vis. Maybe because men (most often) are trying to copy the hill climb riders. If anyone local is going to moan about lack of hi vis (and they do a lot) it is always that hill and especially when it is thick mist and you can hardly see ahead.

 

[anguscat]

My number one request of cyclists is please do not come flying round blind bends, particularly as part of a group nattering away occupying the whole road.

My number two request is slow down around horses and give them space.

I personally don’t much mind being stuck behind them in a car. But I’m rarely rushing between appointments. I can however imagine others trying to go about their work and time-pressed might feel differently about being stuck behind cyclists.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I think cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders should wear hi viz as compulsory items.

I no longer ride, but when I did, I found motorcyclists to be the most considerate, cyclists the least. Have also experienced one steaming round a country bend in the middle of the road as if taking a racing line worthy of a tour de France time trial.

There's been a mega expensive cycle path put in round here, money that could have been spent to dual carriageway a deadly road.

Its the big groups that are the issue, its really hard to pass them easily/safely, especially if in the rare instances they leave gaps, its not enough to safely fit in before overtaking the next batch.

When I had the horse i mainly hacked, id always trot to a safe passing point if I came across a car, and thanked every driver, and wore hi viz

Love the suggestion about bikes having a numberplate or some way of being able to report a rogue cyclist.

 

[ThreeFurs]

I remember walking with friends in a national park or forest, south of Brisbane, Australia. It was absolutely regimented. Certain tracks for walkers, on which no bikes or horses allowed. Dogs on leads. Certain tracks allocated for horses, on which you could walk but horseriders had right of way and priority and any mishaps would be assumed to be fault of walkers. And certain tracks reserved for mountain bikers, on which you could walk but not horse ride and bikers had priority. The Australian authorities obviously assume that everyone is a complete idiot and take steps to try and circumvent that. I didn’t actually like the feel of it though. You were supposed to be in the wild bush, but you had to follow the right trail, or else! It was different, let’s say. On the plus side the bush was quite thick and you did have the security of not being mown down by a biker or out of control horse

That's SO Queensland.
We're less nannyied here in SA. The 17k Amy Gillett bikeway track in the Adelaide Hills [named after the member of the Australian women’s cycling team who tragically died in 2005 while training in Germany] serves walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. They're all hugger mugger, but its two lanes bitumenised, and fairly flat, with good visibility. I'd love to ride it one day, but on a horse used to being passed by groups of cyclists from behind.

ps: Cyclists on public roads a huge issue up here in the Hills. Two recent cyclists deaths and I was shocked at the unsympathetic comments on social media. But the cyclists are generally rude and impossible - not sharing the road. We host the Stages of the International Tour Down Under every January -- so they all want to ride where the greats have.

Visit Adelaide Hills I Cycling the Amy Gillett Pathway

From Oakbank to Mount Torrens - 17km trail through the Adelaide Hills

www.visitadelaidehills.com.au

 

[Chippers1]

Yes, ‘most’ of every category of road users are helpful. And a special for motorcyclists. I think they have greatly improved this last 10 years or so. No I’m not a motorcyclist. I ride, drive and cycle.

My friend has recently learned to ride a motorbike and she told me they had a good hours lesson on learning how to ride around horses

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It is indeed unfortunate that some cyclists are idiots who ride without consideration, but there is a distinct tendency on HHO to lump all cyclists together as aggressive rule breakers.

To be fair TP, on hho there is often a tendency to lump user groups on here in one form or another for some persons within that user group, due to horse cruelty, law breaking, being vile and the like.
All.....
Trail/drag hunters
Show jumpers
Showing
Dressage
Endurance
Polo
Etc etc....

 

[Annagain]

It is indeed unfortunate that some cyclists are idiots who ride without consideration, but there is a distinct tendency on HHO to lump all cyclists together as aggressive rule breakers.

I didn't expect my opening post to gain quite the traction it has or for the thread to go in the direction it has. I should have known there's always that potential on HHO . It was merely a moan at those particular cyclists (not the lycra wearing racing bike ones but a dad and his kids out on mountain bikes mucking about) charging down a single track, steep hill with a blind bend far too fast and praise for my lovely Wiggy for holding it together as he always does.

 

[ester]

Damn I’m a Lycra clad racing bike one .

Genuinely way more issues with teens/delivery riders round here than those wearing appropriate attire for their hobby .

 

[Time for Tea]

That's SO Queensland.
We're less nannyied here in SA. The 17k Amy Gillett bikeway track in the Adelaide Hills [named after the member of the Australian women’s cycling team who tragically died in 2005 while training in Germany] serves walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. They're all hugger mugger, but its two lanes bitumenised, and fairly flat, with good visibility. I'd love to ride it one day, but on a horse used to being passed by groups of cyclists from behind.

ps: Cyclists on public roads a huge issue up here in the Hills. Two recent cyclists deaths and I was shocked at the unsympathetic comments on social media. But the cyclists are generally rude and impossible - not sharing the road. We host the Stages of the International Tour Down Under every January -- so they all want to ride where the greats have.

Visit Adelaide Hills I Cycling the Amy Gillett Pathway

From Oakbank to Mount Torrens - 17km trail through the Adelaide Hills

www.visitadelaidehills.com.au

That sounds a good track, nice and wide with good viz. Interested to hear SA is less nannying! We did a bit of cycling on road near Brisbane, and well, let’s say I think you need to be on a cycle track there, or prepare to die. There didn’t seem to be any nonsense there of people not using the cycle tracks……………they were very popular! The Queensland drivers were not tolerant of cyclists. We’ve been to Perth and that was just fabulous for cycling, mainly designated tracks admittedly.

 

[Time for Tea]

I didn't expect my opening post to gain quite the traction it has or for the thread to go in the direction it has. I should have known there's always that potential on HHO . It was merely a moan at those particular cyclists (not the lycra wearing racing bike ones but a dad and his kids out on mountain bikes mucking about) charging down a single track, steep hill with a blind bend far too fast and praise for my lovely Wiggy for holding it together as he always does.

He does indeed deserve great praise because that is, to a horse, a serious full on frontal assault. Obviously well trained too. Or well ridden. Or both!

 

[Denali]

So many overt haters of cyclists on here .

Just been nearly been made a widow today. Husband, who had survived a very close call with cellulitis earlier this year, and his fellow cycling OAPs in his U3A cycling group were nearly head on’d by a white van this morning. The driver raced round a blind bend on the wrong side of the NSL road while on his phone, and nearly took them all out. The cyclists managed to dodge him.

Sadly no footage close enough to identity the van.

Less than 100 yards from home, and on the very same blind corner in which the driving school instructor nearly rear ended me and the IDx in 2019. I personally cut the hedges on that corner even though they don’t belong to us, just to improve visibility.

Cyclists are very vulnerable, just like horse riders.

Yes cyclists are very vulnerable. Unfortunately the majority don’t care about pedestrians or riders. The majority are rude as hell. Why are they riding on the pavement and why should I not be mad about that?

Why should I not be mad about cyclists not following traffic laws?

 

[ester]

you've a weird majority where you live. The only ones to cause issues round here are teenage boys and they grow up (eventually!)

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We have a lot of entitled idiots here too. Enough that when you do see a sensible one riding with hi viz and decent lights and using the roads as they should be, you notice them. I always wish I could congratulate them on their common sense. I always give cyclists (and pedestrians) plenty of room on our country roads and sometimes I get acknowledged. It is nice when you do as it makes you feel we are all part of the same team.